Power line reactance module and applications

Abstract

The disclosure is generally directed to reactance modules or DSRs ( 30 ) that may be mounted on a power transmission line ( 16 ) of a power transmission system ( 400 ). A DSR ( 30 ) may be configured in a bypass mode or in an injection mode (where reactance is injected into the corresponding line ( 16 )). Multiple DSRs ( 30 ) installed on a power line section ( 18 ) define an array ( 410 ) and have a dedicated controller ( 440 ). Such an array ( 410 ) and controller ( 440 ) may be installed on a number of different power line sections ( 18 ). The controller ( 440 ) for each array ( 410 ) may communicate with a DSR server ( 420 ), which in turn may communicate with a utility-side control system ( 430 ). Each DSR ( 30 ) may incorporate one or more features directed to core ( 50 ) configurations and assembly, communications, modal configuration control, fault protection, EMI shielding, DSR ( 30 ) assembly, and DSR ( 30 ) installation.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A power transmission system, comprising:
 a power line section comprising a length of a power line; 
 a reactance module array that is mounted on said power line section and that comprises a plurality of reactance modules, wherein each said reactance module of said reactance module array is mounted on said power line at a different position along the length of said power line from each other said reactance module of said reactance module array, wherein each said reactance module is switchably disposable in one of first and second modes, and wherein switching a given said reactance module into its said second mode increases a reactance being injected into said power line section; and 
 a reactance module array controller configured to communicate with and control each said reactance module of said reactance module array, wherein said reactance module array controller comprises a first data structure, wherein said first data structure comprises a plurality of system conditions, wherein said first data structure comprises a modal configuration for each of said plurality of reactance modules of said reactance module array for each of said plurality of system conditions, and wherein said modal configuration for each said reactance module of said reactance module array comprises being in either said first mode or said second mode. 
 
     
     
       2. The power transmission system of  claim 1 , wherein said first data structure comprises at least one control objective for each of said plurality of system conditions, and wherein said first data structure comprises said modal configuration for each of said plurality of reactance modules of said reactance module array, for each of said plurality of system conditions, and for each said control objective. 
     
     
       3. The power transmission system of  claim 2 , wherein said at least one control objective is selected from the group consisting of power flow control and control of low frequency oscillations in power delivered through the power transmission system. 
     
     
       4. The power transmission system of  claim 2 , wherein said at least one control objective comprises control of low frequency oscillations in power delivered through the power transmission system, and wherein said control of low frequency oscillations comprises damping frequency variations of the power delivered within a range of about 0.1 Hz to about 5 Hz. 
     
     
       5. The power transmission system of  claim 1 , wherein said reactance module array controller is configured to receive a system condition communication, wherein said reactance module array controller is configured to identify the corresponding said system condition in said first data structure from said system condition communication, and wherein said reactance module array controller is configured to issue a modal communication to at least one said reactance module of said reactance module array in accordance with the corresponding said modal configuration from said first data structure. 
     
     
       6. The power transmission system of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 a utility-side control system, wherein said utility-side control system generates said system condition communication. 
 
     
     
       7. The power transmission system of  claim 1 , wherein said reactance module array controller is configured to receive a first communication, to thereafter determine the modal configuration for each said reactance module of said reactance module array, and to thereafter send a modal communication to at least one said reactance module of said reactance module array. 
     
     
       8. The power transmission system of  claim 7 , wherein said first communication for said reactance module array controller comprises a target operating condition for said power line section. 
     
     
       9. The power transmission system of  claim 7 , wherein said first communication for said reactance module array controller is selected from the group consisting of a target current, a target power, a maximum line temperature, and any combination thereof. 
     
     
       10. The power transmission system of  claim 7 , wherein said first communication for said reactance module array controller does not identify said modal configuration for each said reactance module of said reactance module array. 
     
     
       11. The power transmission system of  claim 7 , wherein said reactance module array controller comprises at least one microprocessor configured to determine said modal configuration, for each said reactance module of said reactance module array, based upon said first communication. 
     
     
       12. The power transmission system of  claim 7 , wherein said reactance module array controller sends said modal communication to each said reactance module of said reactance module array in response to said first communication. 
     
     
       13. The power transmission system of  claim 7 , wherein said reactance module array controller is configured to receive a system condition communication that is different from said first communication, and wherein said reactance module array controller is able to determine said modal configuration for each of said plurality of reactance modules of said reactance module array both based upon receipt of said system condition communication and based upon receipt of said first communication. 
     
     
       14. The power transmission system of  claim 1 , wherein each said reactance module of said reactance module array comprises a temperature override function that disposes said reactance module in its said second mode in response to identification of an excessive temperature condition on said power line section. 
     
     
       15. The power transmission system of  claim 1 , wherein said reactance module array controller comprises a temperature override function that is configured to dispose at least some of said reactance modules in said second mode in response to identification of an excessive temperature condition on said power line section. 
     
     
       16. The power transmission system of  claim 1 , wherein each said reactance module is configured to inject one of inductance and capacitance into said power line section. 
     
     
       17. A power transmission system, comprising:
 a plurality of power line sections; 
 a separate reactance module array that is mounted on each of said plurality of power line sections, wherein each said reactance module array comprises a plurality of reactance modules that are spaced from one another along the corresponding said power line section, wherein each said reactance module is switchably disposable in each of first and second modes, and wherein switching a given said reactance module into its said second mode increases a reactance being injected into its corresponding said power line section; and 
 a separate reactance module array controller for each said reactance module array, wherein each said reactance module array controller is configured to communicate with and control each said reactance module of its corresponding said reactance module array, wherein each said reactance module array controller comprises a first data structure, wherein said first data structure comprises a plurality of system conditions, and wherein said first data structure for each said reactance module array controller comprises a modal configuration for each of said plurality of reactance modules of its corresponding said reactance module array for each of said plurality of system conditions. 
 
     
     
       18. The power transmission system of  claim 17 , wherein each pair of said plurality of power line sections are either different portions of a common power line or are associated with two different power lines. 
     
     
       19. The power transmission system of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 a reactance module server operable to communicate with each said reactance module array controller; and 
 a utility-side control system in communication with said reactance module server. 
 
     
     
       20. The power transmission system of  claim 19 , wherein said reactance module server provides an interface between said utility-side control system and each said reactance module array controller. 
     
     
       21. The power transmission system of  claim 19 , wherein said reactance module server is configured to provide at least one of the following functions: receive status information from each said reactance module array controller regarding its corresponding said reactance modules; receive line condition data from each said reactance module array controller; issue a command to each said reactance module controller;
 and any combination thereof. 
 
     
     
       22. The power transmission system of  claim 19 , wherein said utility-side control system is selected from the group consisting of an energy management system, a supervisory control and data acquisition system, a market management system, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
       23. The power transmission system of  claim 19 , wherein at least some of said reactance module array controllers are configured to share information. 
     
     
       24. The power transmission system of  claim 17 , wherein each said reactance module array controller is configured to receive a present state system condition communication, wherein if a predetermined number of said reactance module array controllers fail to receive said present state system condition communication, said reactance module array controllers are configured to communicate with one another to share information, to determine a present state system condition from said shared information, and to determine said modal configuration for each said reactance module of their corresponding said reactance module array from said determined present state system condition. 
     
     
       25. The power transmission system of  claim 17 , wherein each said reactance module of each said reactance module array comprises a temperature override function that disposes said reactance module in its said second mode in response to identification of an excessive temperature condition on the corresponding said power line section. 
     
     
       26. The power transmission system of  claim 17 , wherein each said reactance module array controller comprises a temperature override function that is configured to dispose at least some of said reactance modules, of its corresponding said reactance module array, in said second mode in response to identification of an excessive temperature condition on the corresponding said power line section. 
     
     
       27. The power transmission system of  claim 17 , wherein each said reactance module is configured to inject one of inductance and capacitance into its corresponding said power line section.